Key-retainer.



J. F. POLMANN.

KEY RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1916.

1,1 98,269. PatehtedSept. 12,1916;

WIN/588,58 l/Vl/E/VTOR ZwW dad/2 [Pal/724W? z a BY A TTORIVEYS JOHN F. POLMANN, OF EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

KEY-RETAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed February 9, 1916. Serial No. 77,136.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. POLMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of East Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Key-Retainer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an attachment for escutcheon plates for retaining a key in a lock to thereby avoid the annoyance of keys being taken out by children and lost, and prevent evil minded persons from removing the key from the lock from the outside while the key has been inserted from the inside, and also to prevent the key from falling out and being lost through the slamming of the door.

The invention has for its general objects to provide a key retainer of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction and so designed that it can be easily and quickly applied to the key-hole of a lock or escutcheon plate.

A further object if the invention is the provision of a device which is interengaged with a key-hole and so constructed as to prevent a key from being removed. Hence the device is interlocked with the key-hole, the device being so constructed as to be adjustable for key-holes of different sizes.

\Vith such objects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appeneded hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates certain embodiments of the invention and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a front view of an escutcheon plate with a key retainer applied to the key-hole thereof and the key being shown in section on the line 1-1, Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2.2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device detached; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of key retainer.

While the key retainer is shown applied to an escutcheon plate, it is to be understood that it can be applied to the key-hole of a lock.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents an escutcheon plate having a key-hole 2 in which is shown a key 3 that is retained in positlon by the retainer or protector A. This protector may be made from a piece of wlre so bent as to form an open ring portion 4, and arms 5 extending therefrom. The ring at has a lug 6 adapted to engage the outer surface of the escutcheon plate or look, and between the ring 4 and members 5 are outwardly-bent lugs 7 which unite the menibers 5 with the ring 4, and these lugs 7 are adapted to pass through the key-hole and engage the under side of the escutcheon plate or front plate of the lock. The members 5 have forwardly bent lugs 8 for convenience in holding the device in applying it to a key-hole. The ring portion 4: lies around the shank of the key 3, and the lugs 7 lie in the bit-receiving portion of the keyhole, so that it is impossible for the key to be withdrawn, as the bit 3 of the key cannot pass out of the bit portion of the keyhole because the lugs 7 form obstructions or guards.

In applying the retainer it is first placed around the shank of the key and the lugs 7 are passed into the large circular portion of the key-hole, while the retainer is held in a position with its length approximately at ninety degrees to the position shown in Fig. 1, and after the lugs 7 are inserted in the round portion of the key-hole the retainer is turned through ninety degrees so that both of the lugs 7 can be inserted in the bit portion of the key-hole, as shown in Fig. 1. The members 5 and the lugs 6 will bear against the outer surface of the escutcheon plate or look and the lugs 7 will engage within the key-hole.

Instead of being made of wire the device may be made from a sheet metal blank, as shown in Fig. i. To adapt the device for key-holes of different sizes the members 5 can be spread apart or forced together to change the effective width of the device.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A key retaining device comprising an open ring, members extending from the ends thereof, lugs projecting from the members in opposite directions at the points adjacent the ring, and a lug extending from the ring at the side opposite from its open portion.

2. A key retaining device comprising an open ring, members extending from the ends thereof, lugs projecting from the members in opposite directions at the points adjacent the ring, and a lug extending from the ring at the side opposite from its open portion, said members having outwardly extending lugs on their outer extremities.

8. A key retaining device comprising an open ring, members extending from the ends thereof, lugs projecting from the members in opposite directions at the points adjacent the ring, and a lug extending from the ring Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the at the side opposite from its open portion, said members having outwardly extending lugs on their outer extremities, said ring being bendable to permit the members to be spread apart or forced together to fit keyholes of different sizes.

4. The combination of a part having a key-hole, with a retainer formed with a substantially open annular member adapted to extend around the circular portion of the key-hole, arms extending from the ends and lying along the opposite sides of the bitreceiving portion of the keyhole, said arms having oppositely extending lugs extending into the key-hole, a lug on the annular member bearing against the outer surface of the said part, and lugs on the free extremities of the said arms.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. POLMANN. l/Vitnesses O. BRADWAY, PHILIP D RoLLI-IAUs.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

